chant
Americannoun
-
chants
plural
-
a short, simple melody, especially one characterized by single notes to which an indefinite number of syllables are intoned, used in singing psalms, canticles, etc., in church services.
-
a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.
-
the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.
-
any monotonous song.
-
a song; singing.
the chant of a bird.
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a monotonous intonation of the voice in speaking.
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a phrase, slogan, or the like, repeated rhythmically and insistently, as by a crowd.
verb (used with object)
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chants,
present (3rd person singular)
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chanted,
past participle, past
-
chanting
present participle
-
to sing to a chant, or in the manner of a chant, especially in a church service.
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to sing.
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to celebrate in song.
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to repeat (a phrase, slogan, etc.) rhythmically and insistently.
verb (used without object)
-
chants,
present (3rd person singular)
-
chanted,
past participle, past
-
chanting
present participle
-
to sing.
-
to utter a chant.
noun
-
a simple song or melody
-
a short simple melody in which several words or syllables are assigned to one note, as in the recitation of psalms
-
a psalm or canticle performed by using such a melody
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a rhythmic or repetitious slogan, usually spoken or sung, as by sports supporters, etc
-
monotonous or singsong intonation in speech
verb
-
to sing or recite (a psalm, prayer, etc) as a chant
-
to intone (a slogan) rhythmically or repetitiously
-
to speak or say monotonously as if intoning a chant
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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chantsimple
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chantssimple
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have chantedperfect
-
has chantedperfect
-
am chantingprogressive
-
are chantingprogressive
-
is chantingprogressive
-
have been chantingperfect progressive
-
has been chantingperfect progressive
Past
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chantedsimple
-
had chantedperfect
-
was chantingprogressive
-
were chantingprogressive
-
had been chantingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of chant
First recorded in 1350–1400; (verb) Middle English chanten, from Middle French chanter, from Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere “to sing”; (noun) from French chant, from Latin cantus; see canto
Explanation
A chant is a type of song with a repetitive, monotonous structure. It’s also something sports fans love to do. At the Olympics, some Americans chant, “USA! USA! USA!” In addition to being something fans like to yell together, a chant is a traditional form in a lot of religious music. There are Catholic chants, Hindu chants, Jewish chants, and the list goes on. Because of this type of music, “to chant” means “to repeat something in a monotone or repetitive way.” Chants have no harmony or instruments, only a simple rhythm and a lot of repetition.
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“M-V-P! M-V-P!” the Lakers faithful chant at Luka Doncic every time the Lakers guard toes the free-throw line.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026
“La Marseillaise,” a war chant that became the national anthem.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
He led a “Where is James Talarico?” chant at a rally.
From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2026
In Marseille, thousands of demonstrators moved around this city, stopping momentarily to chant before moving on as police changed direction.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
From their many fallings and scrapings, already they know the chant of sana, sana.
From "Beast Rider" by Tony Johnston & María Elena Fontanot de Rhoads
“Wynter Waxeth” builds from the hymnal melodies of a frostbitten gothic abbey, into groans of percussion and stacks of frantic, escalating chants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2026
Only the chants of “Let’s Go Brewers!” echoing off the roof remained.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
As Doncic salted the game away, he was serenaded with chants of “MVP!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026
Days before, he delivered a characteristically crude address that singled out CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins in front of a hostile crowd, eliciting angry boos and vicious chants.
From Salon ● Oct. 6, 2026
Mother says nothing about Father but she chants every night, long chants where her voice wavers between hope and acceptance.
From "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhha Lai
"Tsunami! Tsunami!" chanted Ondine Fortune, 64, a Democratic Party media planner.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026
"Yes we can," the crowd chanted at a rally in Atlanta on Wednesday, reviving the slogan from Obama's historic 2008 White House run.
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
Fans chanted this month for the firing of football coach Lincoln Riley — after years of underachieving — though the Trojans have defeated Washington and Penn State after an Oregon loss.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Protesters chanted "shame on you" and "your profits, our misery", after the results were announced.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
This is the boy who heard our last confession on earth, they chanted as if in prayer.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
Thousands of people lined highways, toll plazas and city streets waving Venezuelan flags and chanting "Liberty!" as a beaming Machado entered the capital in a convoy of cars and motorbikes.
From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026
It shows McHenry talking to a male companion and an usher from her seat while fans seated around her can be heard making negative comments about her, with some chanting, “Kick her out!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Photos and video from the event showed students waving signs and chanting slogans like “58, out of date, let our onions speculate!”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026
Tens of thousands inside Etihad Stadium booed and jeered when the Premier League anthem was played over the speakers shortly before kick-off, then they started chanting 'City, City, City'.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
“Thank you. Thank you,” the twins kept chanting as they held Pita up between them, her arms wrapped around their shoulders for support.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
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